Thank you to SIU Center for Family Medicine physician Ashley Howard, MD for sharing this resource with our readers.
Being a new mom is challenging. New babies mean a change in a routine, or sometimes no routine at all depending on your baby’s personality. During pregnancy, you experienced changes in hormones that may have made you cry at dog food commercials, irritable if you were stuck in traffic, or ready to vomit at the smell of fish. After childbirth, our bodies go through fast changes in hormones, we are no longer growing a life inside of our uterus, but are now responsible for keeping a tiny human alive in a very big world.
Motherhood is hard, and can be even harder if you do not have a strong support system. If you work outside the home, it is important for you to discuss accommodations for pumping breastmilk if you are using direct or indirect breastfeeding as your baby’s food, your provider or the baby’s health care provider can write you a letter to explain the medical need for this since your baby’s nutrition depends on it if you are exclusively breastfeeding.
Being a mom is a demanding job, it is important for you to take care of yourself in order to be the best mom that you can be.
- Go to your postpartum visit, and any extra visits that may be recommended by your healthcare provider.
- Honestly answer the postpartum depression questions.
- Eat a healthy and well-balanced diet. Now is not the time to diet, you just had a baby and your body needs time to heal.
- Be active, this one is easier said than done depending on what season you deliver your little one.
- Exercise after your healthcare provider says it’s okay.
- Do the things that you love and that bring you joy, it is ok to take a break from your baby.
- Date nights are important for the health of your relationship, they may not look the same as they did before baby arrived. If you are able to have a babysitter, take advantage of a fun day or night of being away from home. Pinterest has many great ideas for creative date nights at home to fit any budget.
Taking care of your baby is also something that can be inherent for many women. For others, some tips may be helpful:
- Create a routine, brand new babies eat, sleep, pee and poop. As baby gets older and begins sleeping for longer periods of time the routine will be eat, play, sleep and repeat.
- Change baby’s diaper often, this will help prevent diaper rash.
- Keep baby’s umbilical cord clean and dry. If it is red, has liquid draining from it, or develops a bad smell, call your health care provider.
- Wash your hands and avoid being around sick family members.
- Baby should only receive breast milk or infant formula for the first 4-6 months of life.
- Pureed baby food is started at 4-6 months of life, discuss starting pureed foods with your baby’s health care provider at the 6-month well-child visit.
- Put your baby to sleep on his or her back
- Baby should have his/her own sleep space in a crib or bassinet. Baby should NOT be in your bed.
- You may swaddle or use sleep sacks that are securely fastened and the appropriate size for your baby.
- No toys, soft bedding, pumper pads or large blankets should be in the bed with your baby.
- Keep the temperature of your home at 72-74 degrees if you have a newborn.
- Dress baby in layers, as they typically need 1-2 more layers of clothing than you do to stay at the right temperature.
- Babies lose most of their heat through their head, new babies should wear hats, even indoors.
- If you are comfortable in a t-shirt baby may need a long sleeved onesie and pants to stay warm.
- If you are warm in a t-shirt baby may need a short sleeved onesie.
- healthychildren.org is a website sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics, and has information on ages and stages, as well as tips on safety and prevention.
Ashley Howard, MD, is a family medicine physician at SIU Medicine’s Center for Family Medicine in Taylorville, and is passionate about improving health for new moms and babies.
